This press release can be found at: http://www.fbi.gov/pressrel/pressrel08/hatecrimestats_102708.htm
The press release gives statistics on the frequency of hate crimes in 2007, and then proceeds to break down the frequency of hate crimes against specific races, ethnicities, religions, and other minorities.
At the end it breaks down where most of the hate crimes occur, and after homes, alleys, and highways is colleges or schools. It would be interesting to interview colleges in the area and ask about the frequency of hate crimes. Another source I would interview is a representative from groups like the gay-straight alliance, or NAACP to talk about what these statistics mean to them and how they fit into the larger picture of acceptance and respect within their groups.
Monday, October 27, 2008
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Crime Story Freaks Marni Out
I found this crime story on cnn at the following link:
http://www.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/10/22/childporn.alamo.search.ap/index.html
Follower: Evangelist Alamo had 9-year-old bride
This story starts off being interesting by it's disturbing headline, describing a man taking a 9-year-old for a bride. It them moves into the most current news about Alamo, his trial date and what he's being charged with. After that, the story kept my attention by giving the perverse story of Alamo, who apparently would paddle his followers and sleep with and marry pre-pubescent girls.
It has a few different witnesses and voices in the piece: Decker, Sprinkle, and Ondirseck were the witnesses, along with the prosecutor, the mayor, and the judge. It had mutliple direct quotes, and it did use some descriptive language. When Decker was asked if paddlings were used as punishment, he "paused before saying yes." Which is a good example of providing enough for a picture without getting to flowery, like, "Decker paused, looking down grimly, before he answered" or something.
It has a quick ending that gives Alamo's real name and the sentences his charges carry.
Overall, the story is about a twisted guy and it's written clearly enough to make it interesting without going overboard.
http://www.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/10/22/childporn.alamo.search.ap/index.html
Follower: Evangelist Alamo had 9-year-old bride
This story starts off being interesting by it's disturbing headline, describing a man taking a 9-year-old for a bride. It them moves into the most current news about Alamo, his trial date and what he's being charged with. After that, the story kept my attention by giving the perverse story of Alamo, who apparently would paddle his followers and sleep with and marry pre-pubescent girls.
It has a few different witnesses and voices in the piece: Decker, Sprinkle, and Ondirseck were the witnesses, along with the prosecutor, the mayor, and the judge. It had mutliple direct quotes, and it did use some descriptive language. When Decker was asked if paddlings were used as punishment, he "paused before saying yes." Which is a good example of providing enough for a picture without getting to flowery, like, "Decker paused, looking down grimly, before he answered" or something.
It has a quick ending that gives Alamo's real name and the sentences his charges carry.
Overall, the story is about a twisted guy and it's written clearly enough to make it interesting without going overboard.
Monday, October 20, 2008
Former Power Ranger Extra Kills 2
Man found guilty in murder of couple tossed off yacht
I found this article at the following site: http://www.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/10/20/yatch.killings.ap/index.html
The Lede shows it's a hard news story, short, to the point, and answering the most pertinent questions: A jury has convicted a man of murdering three people, including a couple who were tied to an anchor and thrown off their yacht in Southern California.
Actually, the only thing it's missing is an attribution, police said.
Oddly enough there are no quotes in this, possibly because it's just a blurb of about 150 words. There is a nut graf, though, or at least an explanatory paragraph: The jury late Monday afternoon found Skylar Deleon guilty of three counts of first-degree murder and special circumstances for financial gain and multiple victims.
There really doesn't need to be a specific "so what?" paragraph, because two people died for no reason. If you read the article, the guy was an extra in a "Mighty Morphin Power Rangers" episode, and he bragged about it--that, right there, shows his mental instability. If that isn't enough, he tied the couple to an anchor and threw them overboard during a test drive of the yacht so he could steal it from them. The guy definitely has some issues with self-worth and overcompensation.
But, I digress. The article is mainly about a crime that occurred in 2004, so it's just an update to show the police have found the murderer. The ending is kind of a fizzle, but it's an online article, so it doesn't really have the space issue, it just ends with the details of why he killed the couple--for the yacht.
I found this article at the following site: http://www.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/10/20/yatch.killings.ap/index.html
The Lede shows it's a hard news story, short, to the point, and answering the most pertinent questions: A jury has convicted a man of murdering three people, including a couple who were tied to an anchor and thrown off their yacht in Southern California.
Actually, the only thing it's missing is an attribution, police said.
Oddly enough there are no quotes in this, possibly because it's just a blurb of about 150 words. There is a nut graf, though, or at least an explanatory paragraph: The jury late Monday afternoon found Skylar Deleon guilty of three counts of first-degree murder and special circumstances for financial gain and multiple victims.
There really doesn't need to be a specific "so what?" paragraph, because two people died for no reason. If you read the article, the guy was an extra in a "Mighty Morphin Power Rangers" episode, and he bragged about it--that, right there, shows his mental instability. If that isn't enough, he tied the couple to an anchor and threw them overboard during a test drive of the yacht so he could steal it from them. The guy definitely has some issues with self-worth and overcompensation.
But, I digress. The article is mainly about a crime that occurred in 2004, so it's just an update to show the police have found the murderer. The ending is kind of a fizzle, but it's an online article, so it doesn't really have the space issue, it just ends with the details of why he killed the couple--for the yacht.
Monday, October 13, 2008
Article Assessment: Global Warming vs. Economic Crisis
This article can be found at: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081012/ap_on_bi_ge/meltdown_global_warming;_ylt=AsUKXu3sKpo6VCa4YhlOeIYPLBIF
The lede to this article is a summary lede, but is a bit toned down since this story isn't focused on the timeliness, but a gathering of current opinion that probably won't change over the next week.
WASHINGTON - The economic free fall gripping the nation may bring down one of the main environmental objectives: capping the greenhouse gases that are blamed for global warming.
The lede doesn't need exact dates or quotes, it draws people in who are interested in climate change.
The next paragraph is the nut graf, giving more background on climate change being a goal "next year" as we now try to face the economic crisis:
Democratic leaders in the House and the Senate, and both presidential candidates, continue to rank tackling global warming as a chief goal next year. But the focus on stabilizing the economy probably will make it more difficult to pass a law to reduce carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. At the very least, it will push back when the reductions would have to start.
Then a good quote that adds to both the lede and the nut graf to further state that climate change isn't as important right now:
"Clearly it is somewhere down the totem pole given the economic realities we are facing," said Tom Williams, a spokesman for Duke Energy Corp., an electricity producer that has supported federal mandates on greenhouse gases.
The article continues with the legislature of cap-and-trade where greenhouse gas emitting companies would have a cap of how much they could emit, and if they emitted less than they were allowed, they could trade with fellow greenhouse gas-emitting companies. The article says Obama thinks the economic crisis and climate change can be tackled at the same time by auctioning off the cap permits and using the money for alternative energy. Although, I'm not sure who would be auctioning them.
The problem I see with both of these approaches is the companies emitting greenhouse gasses won't actually have to reduce them, they'll be able to go over cap by trading with other companies or buyinig more permits at auctions. It's just adding more bureaucracy to the problem, which doesn't ever help. It's almost like a game of Monopoly or Pit, a commodity trading game, only in the end everybody loses.
The end of the article is a quote from a Sierra Club leader:
"I really wish that the science of global warming would look at the newspaper, and say we have an economic crisis so the Earth will stop warming," said Dave Hamilton, director of the Sierra Club's global warming and energy program. "But that is not going to happen."
I had to read over this quote two or three times to really get what Hamilton was trying to say. I'm not sure if he would like this quote at the end, after all of the bureaucratic garble that precedes it, because he almost comes off as a left-wing nutter butter. It probably seem that way moreso because he has a strong opinon about what's happening and it's fueled by his concern for the environment as opposed to his concern for the election.
The lede to this article is a summary lede, but is a bit toned down since this story isn't focused on the timeliness, but a gathering of current opinion that probably won't change over the next week.
WASHINGTON - The economic free fall gripping the nation may bring down one of the main environmental objectives: capping the greenhouse gases that are blamed for global warming.
The lede doesn't need exact dates or quotes, it draws people in who are interested in climate change.
The next paragraph is the nut graf, giving more background on climate change being a goal "next year" as we now try to face the economic crisis:
Democratic leaders in the House and the Senate, and both presidential candidates, continue to rank tackling global warming as a chief goal next year. But the focus on stabilizing the economy probably will make it more difficult to pass a law to reduce carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. At the very least, it will push back when the reductions would have to start.
Then a good quote that adds to both the lede and the nut graf to further state that climate change isn't as important right now:
"Clearly it is somewhere down the totem pole given the economic realities we are facing," said Tom Williams, a spokesman for Duke Energy Corp., an electricity producer that has supported federal mandates on greenhouse gases.
The article continues with the legislature of cap-and-trade where greenhouse gas emitting companies would have a cap of how much they could emit, and if they emitted less than they were allowed, they could trade with fellow greenhouse gas-emitting companies. The article says Obama thinks the economic crisis and climate change can be tackled at the same time by auctioning off the cap permits and using the money for alternative energy. Although, I'm not sure who would be auctioning them.
The problem I see with both of these approaches is the companies emitting greenhouse gasses won't actually have to reduce them, they'll be able to go over cap by trading with other companies or buyinig more permits at auctions. It's just adding more bureaucracy to the problem, which doesn't ever help. It's almost like a game of Monopoly or Pit, a commodity trading game, only in the end everybody loses.
The end of the article is a quote from a Sierra Club leader:
"I really wish that the science of global warming would look at the newspaper, and say we have an economic crisis so the Earth will stop warming," said Dave Hamilton, director of the Sierra Club's global warming and energy program. "But that is not going to happen."
I had to read over this quote two or three times to really get what Hamilton was trying to say. I'm not sure if he would like this quote at the end, after all of the bureaucratic garble that precedes it, because he almost comes off as a left-wing nutter butter. It probably seem that way moreso because he has a strong opinon about what's happening and it's fueled by his concern for the environment as opposed to his concern for the election.
Monday, October 6, 2008
Article assessment: Simpson on trial
This article can be found here: http://www.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/10/05/simpson.juror/index.html
Simpson Jury: we relied on tapes, not witnesses.
The lede to this is short and strong, a succinct summary: The jury that convicted O.J. Simpson of robbery and other charges relied mostly on audio and video evidence -- and very little on testimony from prosecution witnesses -- jury members said Sunday.
All the good stuff is right in front, and the date and attribution is at the end. It gets right to the point of the article based on the headline and it keeps me interested.
The lede is followed by a killer quote that also backs up the lede: "We honestly felt we could not rely on that witness testimony," said Michelle R. Lyons, one of seven jurors who spoke to reporters in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Sunday. "There was not one decision we made that was based only on witness testimony."
It adds to the lede in a quote, which is naturally more fun to read than a block of text.
The quote is followed by a nut graf for the the article, explaining a bit more and giving an answer to "so what?": Jury foreman Paul Connelly said some of the prosecution's witnesses didn't seem trustworthy. At least three former Simpson co-defendants who cut deals to testify in the case had criminal records
I actually wasn't sure if this was the nut graf or the one written two paragraphs later that explained why Simpson was on trial. I decided that the paragraph about the Jury foreman gave the nut graf for this specific article while the other paragraph gave a nut graf for this chapter of the Simpson saga, adding background to bring readers up to speed who hadn't seen previous articles stating why Simpson was on trial.
The ending is a quote from one of the jury members that sums up the arguments for the jury in response to Simpson's explanation that he was just retrieving stolen merchandise: "Under Nevada law ... even if you're recovering your own stuff, you can't do it in the manner that they all went in and did it," Pettit said.
Other interesting points: Simpson's lawyer is trying to bring up race again, as if he's being targetted again because he's black and there are 11 white jury members. It would be hard for me to write this article or be an objective juror, so I can see how he might feel at a disadvantage. Fortunately, the case seems transparent enough, with video evidence of his robbery, that claiming this as a race issue is just grasping at straws.
Simpson Jury: we relied on tapes, not witnesses.
The lede to this is short and strong, a succinct summary: The jury that convicted O.J. Simpson of robbery and other charges relied mostly on audio and video evidence -- and very little on testimony from prosecution witnesses -- jury members said Sunday.
All the good stuff is right in front, and the date and attribution is at the end. It gets right to the point of the article based on the headline and it keeps me interested.
The lede is followed by a killer quote that also backs up the lede: "We honestly felt we could not rely on that witness testimony," said Michelle R. Lyons, one of seven jurors who spoke to reporters in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Sunday. "There was not one decision we made that was based only on witness testimony."
It adds to the lede in a quote, which is naturally more fun to read than a block of text.
The quote is followed by a nut graf for the the article, explaining a bit more and giving an answer to "so what?": Jury foreman Paul Connelly said some of the prosecution's witnesses didn't seem trustworthy. At least three former Simpson co-defendants who cut deals to testify in the case had criminal records
I actually wasn't sure if this was the nut graf or the one written two paragraphs later that explained why Simpson was on trial. I decided that the paragraph about the Jury foreman gave the nut graf for this specific article while the other paragraph gave a nut graf for this chapter of the Simpson saga, adding background to bring readers up to speed who hadn't seen previous articles stating why Simpson was on trial.
The ending is a quote from one of the jury members that sums up the arguments for the jury in response to Simpson's explanation that he was just retrieving stolen merchandise: "Under Nevada law ... even if you're recovering your own stuff, you can't do it in the manner that they all went in and did it," Pettit said.
Other interesting points: Simpson's lawyer is trying to bring up race again, as if he's being targetted again because he's black and there are 11 white jury members. It would be hard for me to write this article or be an objective juror, so I can see how he might feel at a disadvantage. Fortunately, the case seems transparent enough, with video evidence of his robbery, that claiming this as a race issue is just grasping at straws.
Friday, October 3, 2008
Biden Vs. Palin's Economics: Take Care of Middle Class
By Marni Newell
Kalamazoo, Mich---
Biden and Palin spent the first half of the debate on Thursday arguing over semantics of tax increases, both claiming the other was advocating taxing the middle class.
In regard to McCain’s economic policies, Biden stated, “It doesn’t make John McCain a bad guy, it just makes him out of touch.”
Palin claimed Obama voted for tax increases, including taxing small businesses, saying businesses that paid more taxes couldn’t hire as many people.
According to Biden, Obama’s plan wouldn’t tax any household or business making less than $250,000 a year, which includes “95 percent of small businesses.” Biden also disapproved of McCain’s healthcare proposal, which would supply families with $5,000 for health insurance, but would go straight to insurance companies, which he described as the “ultimate bridge to nowhere.”
The debate often strayed from the specific questions Moderator Gwen Ifill asked, sometimes sparking laughter from the moderator’s frank statements, “Neither of you answered the question.” Gov. Palin prefaced some of her answers candidly, “I’m not going to answer the question, instead I’d like to tell you about my track record.”
Meanwhile, Biden had distractions of his own, shown in one speech with the repetitive statements about McCain and Palin’s plans being the same as the Bush Administration’s. Biden’s approval ratings peaked in his description of current Vice President Cheney as, “The most dangerous vice president we’ve had in history.”
Palin maintained her smile during discussions of energy plans where she alluded to her opinion of global warming by saying not all effects of climate change can be attributed to man. She ultimately kept the conversation away from her skepticism of global warming saying “but I don’t want to talk about the cause, I want to talk about the solutions.”
Overall audience approval ratings by men and women stayed consistently above average for both candidates, a contrast to last weeks presidential debate.
Kalamazoo, Mich---
Biden and Palin spent the first half of the debate on Thursday arguing over semantics of tax increases, both claiming the other was advocating taxing the middle class.
In regard to McCain’s economic policies, Biden stated, “It doesn’t make John McCain a bad guy, it just makes him out of touch.”
Palin claimed Obama voted for tax increases, including taxing small businesses, saying businesses that paid more taxes couldn’t hire as many people.
According to Biden, Obama’s plan wouldn’t tax any household or business making less than $250,000 a year, which includes “95 percent of small businesses.” Biden also disapproved of McCain’s healthcare proposal, which would supply families with $5,000 for health insurance, but would go straight to insurance companies, which he described as the “ultimate bridge to nowhere.”
The debate often strayed from the specific questions Moderator Gwen Ifill asked, sometimes sparking laughter from the moderator’s frank statements, “Neither of you answered the question.” Gov. Palin prefaced some of her answers candidly, “I’m not going to answer the question, instead I’d like to tell you about my track record.”
Meanwhile, Biden had distractions of his own, shown in one speech with the repetitive statements about McCain and Palin’s plans being the same as the Bush Administration’s. Biden’s approval ratings peaked in his description of current Vice President Cheney as, “The most dangerous vice president we’ve had in history.”
Palin maintained her smile during discussions of energy plans where she alluded to her opinion of global warming by saying not all effects of climate change can be attributed to man. She ultimately kept the conversation away from her skepticism of global warming saying “but I don’t want to talk about the cause, I want to talk about the solutions.”
Overall audience approval ratings by men and women stayed consistently above average for both candidates, a contrast to last weeks presidential debate.
Thursday, October 2, 2008
State Police Bans Ray Guns, Cancer Research to Follow
By Marni Newell
Kalamazoo, Mich---
Meridian, Conn. State Police Department ordered a ban of hand-held radar guns yesterday over concerns of troopers developing cancer from the radiation waves emitted by the device.
The research started two months after three municipal police officers in Conn. filed workers’ compensation claims, saying they developed cancer from using hand-held radar guns.
The move is considered to be the first of its kind by a state police agency.
“The feeling here is to err on the side of caution until more is known about the issue,” said Adam Berluti, state police spokesman.
The ban affects 70 radar guns, which will be withdrawn from service. State troopers will continue to use radar units with transmitters mounted on the outside of their cruisers.
Kalamazoo, Mich---
Meridian, Conn. State Police Department ordered a ban of hand-held radar guns yesterday over concerns of troopers developing cancer from the radiation waves emitted by the device.
The research started two months after three municipal police officers in Conn. filed workers’ compensation claims, saying they developed cancer from using hand-held radar guns.
The move is considered to be the first of its kind by a state police agency.
“The feeling here is to err on the side of caution until more is known about the issue,” said Adam Berluti, state police spokesman.
The ban affects 70 radar guns, which will be withdrawn from service. State troopers will continue to use radar units with transmitters mounted on the outside of their cruisers.
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